Principal pleads for traffic calming measures

Mr John Broodryk, from Sir Edmund Hillary School, questioned what needs to happen for council to take the safety of the thousands of children who use Cumberland Road on a weekly basis seriously.

Cumberland Road is one of the main entrance and exit points to several schools, either on this road, or in close vicinity.

Several children have been knocked down over the years and either injured or killed by speeding motorists.

The EXPRESS previously reported that a child who was struck by a car suffered a broken pelvis and legs. Other incidents included a grade 2 pupil who was certified dead on the scene after being knocked down, another pupil who sustained a fractured leg and a 5-year-old child who sustained a fractured leg, neck injuries and a deep cut on her head.

Motorists park their vehicles on the road when they go to Sir Edmund Hillary School to pick up or drop off children, make U-turns in front of oncoming vehicles and park their vehicles in areas which block the vision of oncoming vehicles and children who cross the road.

Several school principals have pleaded for action in the past, but to no avail.

Mr Broodryk said traffic congestion is worse than before and reckless driving continues unabated.

He said that measures which were put in place, such as a solar powered warning sign, have been of no help.

“This road sign has not been in working order for a long time. The flashing traffic light close to another school is not working,” said Mr Broodryk.

Ideas from him, and other school principals, to stop motorists from speeding included the construction of speed humps or the erection of traffic lights.

These ideas were shot down by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) because Cumberland Road is classified a main arterial route. It is against the city’s policy to implement traffic calming measures on roads such as these.

“If council cannot implement speed humps it should construct traffic circles or anything that makes an impact. There were some people here a while ago who repainted the road signs but this did not make a difference. Council said it would contact us to discuss problems but it never did,” said Mr Broodryk.

He said he is doing his best to ensure his pupils are safe.

“I have three people who help direct traffic and help the children cross the road but they cannot have their eyes on everyone. Sometimes the young children see the way the older learners cross the road and do the same thing, putting their lives in danger. We do talk to our pupils and educate them about road safety. However, council has to implement traffic calming measures that will help,” he said.

Mr Broodryk did state in the past that he was considering petitioning the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) for action. He is not sure how much impact this will have, taking into account that his calls for action in the past did not yield any results.

The EXPRESS forwarded an enquiry to City of Johannesburg officials. At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.